Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)

I thank the proposers of the motion and acknowledge the fact that the Government is supporting it. We in Sinn Féin also support the proposals in this motion. It is clear that successive Governments have repeatedly failed to build a modern public transport system that is fit for the 21st century. We only have to look at Dublin's MetroLink, which has been stuck in the pipeline for decades, to see why Ireland regularly ranks as having one of the worst public transport systems in the EU. As a result, public confidence in public transport is not as high as it should be, to say the least. We want to have a fairer system in towns, villages and cities across the State. We want a system that is sustainable, affordable, accessible and safe.

Public transport is about far more than just trains and buses. It is an economic engine that connects people to their jobs, education and services. A number of small issues with public transport are important. When people are travelling on public transport, it is important that they are comfortable. It is not acceptable anymore that people who are undertaking four-hour or four-and-a-half-hour rail journeys from Tralee, Galway and the west generally, and almost everywhere else apart from the Cork-Dublin-Belfast rail line, cannot access even a bottle of water on the train. If you are travelling for that length of time and if the train is not delayed, and in fairness it is usually an efficient enough service, you should be able to get a cup of tea. Many people, I know from experience, including older people and those who do not like having to change trains and who have difficulty accessing public transport, like to take the direct route. It is those trains, in particular, that have the fewest services or no services at all.

Bus stops were mentioned. The system for implementing new bus stops is far too cumbersome. There are overly long negotiations between the councils and the National Transport Authority, NTA, before funding is provided for a bus stop. That must improve.

I will come back to the point about older people and people with disabilities. The situation for them must improve. Some 18% of people have a disability but only 6% of people with a disability access public transport. That is unacceptable. I know what the Minister of State said.

A well-connected, functioning and affordable public transport system is essential for regional balance. The effort to create balanced regional economic growth on the island has been neglected for decades by successive Governments. We heard earlier about the northern and western region and that there is still no rail in Donegal. That region ranks in the bottom 10% of the EU's 234 regions in terms of transport infrastructure. The Government cannot stand over that anymore. It leads not only to a lack of confidence but also to a deep unfairness and inequality. It was good to see the recommendations of the all-island strategic rail review because it is a good way for Ireland to course correct.

I noted what the Minister of State said in his opening statement about fare reductions and that keeping fares low is a priority. It is vital. The Minister of State did not say that the reductions would be changed or altered. He did not give any indication in that regard. Those fare reductions must not be reversed because if we are to continue to make the progress that has been made in recent years, it is important that fares are kept as low as possible. We heard what the Minister of State said. It is important for the Government to get on with it. Implementation should be the priority. People are sick of announcements when there is zero progress. The clear targets for projects, such as the western rail corridor and MetroLink, which must be put in place.

Transport emissions have already been mentioned. They comprise one fifth of Ireland's total emissions and half of them come from passenger cars. The targets for delivery of bus services in rural towns, which are important, must be implemented as soon as possible.

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